“Nago City, located in the northern part of Okinawa Prefecture, has a population of about 60,000. Since 1996, when the Henoko district of the city emerged as the relocation site for the Futenma Marine Corps Air Base, residents have been split into two groups: for and against.
The Japanese government injected a total of 60 billion yen in economic measures to promote northern Okinawa from 2000 through 2008 in return for Nago City’s accepting the relocation plan [and landfilling their tropical bay]. As a result, Henoko succeeded in attracting the Okinawa National College of Technology and a call center. A seven-story industry support center building was erected in the center of the city. The emotional tensions among Nago residents were gradually reduced because the city succeeded in providing about 950 jobs.”
Quotes from Asian Gazette
